Load carrying and erecting implement



2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Ee/'urneaw A991128, 1942. R. G. LE TOURNEAU l LOAD CARRYING AND ERECTING vMPLEMENT AFiled Sept. 22, 1941 April 28, 1942. R. G. LE ToURNl-:Au 2,281,507.

LOAD CARRYING AND ERECTING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942 Robert G. Le Tournean, Peoria, Ill., assignor to R. G. Le Tourneau, Inc., a corporation Application soptornborzz, 1941, sorialNo. 411,828

(cl. 21a-s) 9 Claims.

This invention, which relates generally to a self-powered construction vehicle, is directed in particular, and it is the principal object to p rovide, a self-powered vehicle arranged to receive and transport a load of construction members; the vehicle incorporating a crane mechanism which is operative to lift the construction members individually from the vehicle and to swing said members to correct position for connection into the structure which said transported members are to form a part.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-powered vehicle arranged to transport a plurality of portable bridge spans; the vehicle including a crane mechanism to lift such spans one at a time from the load, and to swing the spans one after another to position in thebridge being erected, the vehicle being adapted to move onto each span as erected and thus bein position to swing the next span into place.

A further object of the invention is to provide unique actuating means for the crane mechanism which is embodied in the implement. l

A further object of the invention is to produce a. simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly efective'for thepurpose for which it is designed. Y

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters `of reference indicate corresponding parts Y in lthe several views: f

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vehicle, with horizontal turning n'oovemontv andthe tractor unit is of the type wherein steering is accomplished by Vrelative change in speeds between the drive y wheels.

The trailer, at its rear end, is provided with a boom unit which comprises relatively long, up-

wardly projecting side beams 5 disposed in parallel relation and pivoted, as shown at 6, above but adjacent their `lower end to the sides of the bed I adjacent-thev rear end of the latter. At their upper end, side beams 5 are` connected in rigid relation by a cross beam 1. It will be seen that by virtue ofthe above arrangement the boom unit does not obstruct the rear end of the trailer bed I, and vis capable of swinging movement from a forwardly and upwardly inclined position overhanging the bed, as shown in Fig. 1, to a. rearwardly and upwardly inclined position overhanging the area rearwardly of the vehicle, as shown in-Fig. 2. .y

rlhe tractor unit at ,itsrear end and between the lupperand lower arms ofthe yoke 3 is proelevation of the spring assembly which swings n the boom unit in one direction.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the vehicle comprises a trailer including a flatbed I supported at its rear end by transversely spaced wheels 2. At its forward end andcentrally of its side the bed I is provided with a forwardly projecting yoke 3, which is coupled at its forward end with the rear end portion of a two-wheel tractor unit, indicated generally at B. The trac-k tor unit 4 is coupled with the yoke `3 for relative the cable'v I8 nyextends"f forwardlyi'fjbetn vatoiy rearwardly of the rear' Aenti of tiibiii'mern'- vided with a conventional twofdrum power control unit 8,v each'drumof which isselectively controlled `by the operator and driven from the tractor engine. Separate 4cables 9 and Illleadupward from the power control unit 8 and pass over corresponding direction changing sheaves, indicated generally at ii, mounted on the upper end of rigid supporting posts l2 which project up wardly from the yoke 3. v f .Y

The cable .9 leadsr'earwardly from sheaves II to a multiple sheave block I3 mountedon cross beam I centrally of the ends of the'latter.'l From sheave block I3 cable 9 runs back and forth between said block and a depending multiple sheave block and hook unit Id, thus forming a block and tackle assembly. The cable I0 extends rearwardly from sheaves Il asmultiple reaches which cooperate with other sheaves of blockf'i'ti` andis dead-ended adjacent one of said vsheaves I i.`

A vrelatively long heavy-dutyr compression spring I5 is housed in a tubular `frnember i6 mounted lengthwise beneath thebedly of Sthe trailer ahead of the rear wheels 2 and centrally between the sides' of said Such spring engages against an annular seat I'I securedin the rear end `of tubular member I6. Aj yflexible loable I8 is secured by a clevis I9t"o an ear 42`Il` project.- ing centrally from across member '2 I w vich e'xltonus, injrigid lrelation ,between n the .lower :einer: 'of

side beams 5 of the boom unit., .'Er'om' cle IS wheels 2, overl a ,lead1 pulley' gtvdisposed ber Ii, and thence passes into said tubular member, through spring I5, and to a termination ahead thereof. An anchor head 24 is secured on the forward and free end of cable I8, and this head seats against an annular collar 25 slidably disposed in tubular member I6 between head 2l and the adjacent end of compression spring I5. 'I'he length of cable Il is such that regardless of the position of the boom unit, the spring I is loaded to a certain extent and the spring is not at any time wholly relieved of tension.

When the vehicle is in load-carrying position the cable I0 is drawn in to an extent to cause the boom unit to be swung forwardly about its pivotv 8 until said boom unit extends forwardly at an upward incline in an overhanging relation to the bed I, the hook unit I4 then being suspended above the load. When the boom unit is so disposed the cable I8 has been drawn rearwardly, further loading the spring I5.

The vehicle above described, while capable of many uses, has been designed particularly to transport and erect portable bridge spans. Such spans, indicated at 26, are stacked for transport on the bed I of the vehicle in the manner shown in Fig. 1. To unload such spans one at-a time and to swing the same to a position rearwardly of the vehicle, the boom unit is actuated as follows:

A suitable sling 21 encirclesv span 26 intermediate its ends-and hook-.unit I4,

is engaged with such sling, and cables is drawn in by the power control unit until` said span is lifted clear. Then the cable III is permitted to run out, which permits the boom unit to' swing l cable to pull the same forwardly; one such means comprising a loaded spring.

2. In combination with a vehicle having a bed.

a boom projecting above the bed, means pivoting the boom intermediate its ends but adjacent its lower end for swinging movement lengthwise of the vehicle between a forwardly inclined position and a rearwardly inclined position, a pull cable connected with the boom above its' pivot and extending forwardly therefrom, said cable being adapted for connectionA with a control means, another cable connected with the boom below its pivot and extending forwardly therefrom, and a pull spring mounted on the vehicle ahead of said boom pivot and connected with said last named cable.

3. A structure as in claim 2 in which said pull spring comprises a compression spring; a tubular Alongitudinally extending housing in which said spring is disposed, and an annular seat for the spring in said housing at its rear end, said last named cable extending through said seat and said spring, and anchor means applied to the forward end of said last named cable engaging the forward end of the spring.

4. In combination with a vehicle having a bed,

' al boom unit including transversely spaced side beams connected by a top beam, said side beams being pivoted intermediate their ends but adjacentv their lower ends on the sides of the bed adjacent its rear end, said boom unit projecting upward-some distance above the bed and being rearwardly about pivot 6 under the influence of spring I 5 until it reaches a rearwardly projecting and inclined position, such as shown in Fig. 2. When the boom unit is in this latter position the supported bridge span is clear of the rear end of bed I. The suspended span isthen lowered, by holding back on cable I0, and secured in-place.

After an initial span, such as is shown in Fig. 1,` has been set inv place with one endfsupported by a stream bank B, for example, and the other end supported by a leg unit L, the span transporting and erecting vehicle may back onto such inig tial span and place the next following span in the bridge structure. It will thus be seen that as the portable bridge structure is erected, the vehicle moves from span to span supplying and positioning the next following span.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a deadapted for swinging movement lengthwise of the vehicle between a forwardly inclined position and a rearwardly inclined position, load-supporting means depending from the top beam intermediate its ends, a pull cable extending forwardly from said top beam, said cable being adapted for connection with a control means, a cross beam connecting the side beams below said pivots, another pull lcable extending forwardly from said cross beam, and a loaded pull aspring mounted beneath the bed of the vehicle and connected to the forward end of said other pull cable.

5. In combination with a vehicle having a bed,

, a boom unit including transversely spaced side beams connected by a top beam, said side beams being pivoted intermediate their ends, but adjacent their lower ends on the sides of the bed adjacent its rear end, said boom unit projecting upward some distance above the bed and being adapted for swinging movement lengthwise of the vehicle between a forwardly inclined position overhanging said bed and a rearwardly inclined position overhanging the area rearwardly of said bed, a block and tackle depending from the top beam substantially centrally of the ends of the latter, the lower block of said block and tackle including a load-supporting hook, one reach of parture from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus-described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure said block and tackle extending forwardly from the upper block and adapted for connection with la control means, a separate pull cable extending forwardly from the topvbeam and adapted for connection with a separate control means, a cross beam connecting the side beams below said pivots, another pull cable extendingforwardly from said cross beam, and a loaded pull spring mounted beneath the bed ofthe vehicle and connected to theforward end `of said' other pun cable.

6. In combination with an implement including a trailer having a bed, and a tractor connected in draft relation to the trailer, the tractor including a two-drum power control unit; a boom unit including transversely spaced side beams connected by a top beam, said side beams being pivoted intermediate their ends but adjacent their lower ends on the sides'of the trailer bed adjacent its rear end, said boomunit projecting upwardly some distance above the bed and being adapted for swinging movement lengthwise thereof between a forwardly inclined position overhanging the bed and a rearwardly inclined position-overhanging the area rearwardly of the bed, a block and tackle suspended from said `top beam substantially centrally of its ends, the lower block of said block and tackle including a loadsupporting hook, one reach of said block and tackle extending forwardly from the upper block, and being operatively connected with one -drum of said power control unit, a separate pull cable extending forwardly from said top beam and being operatively connected with the other drum of said power control unit, a cross beam connecting the side beams below said pivots, Aanother pull cable extending forwardly from said cross beam, and a loaded pull spring mounted beneath the bed of the vehicle and connectedto the forward end of said other pull cable.

7. A- combination as in claim 6 including a rigid upstanding post adjacent the forward end of the trailer bed, and direction changing sheaves mounted in connection with the upper end of said post; the forwardly extending reach of the block and tackle, and-said first named pull cable extending over said direction changing sheaves and thence passing downwardly to the drums of the power control unit.

8. In combination with an implement including a. trailer having a bed, and a tractor connected in draft relation to the trailer, the tractor including a power driven cable drum; a boom pivotedon the trailer and projecting above the bed, said -bocm being arranged for swinging movement between a forwardly inclined position 'overhanging the transverse plane of the bed and a rearwardly inclined position overhanging the area immediately rearwardly of the bed, a pull spring mounted on the trailer, a connecting element between the pull spring and the boom, said spring being operative to swing the boom to said rearwardly inclined position, a forwardly extending pull cable connected at one end to the boom and at the other end to said cable drum whereby when the cable runs onto said drum the boom is swung forwardly to said forwardly inclined position and against the urge of said spring.

9. A combination as in claim 8 in which the tractor includes another power driven cable drum, a block and tackle suspended from lthe upper end portion of said boom, the mwenblock of the.

block and tackle including a load-supporting hook, and one reach of said block and tackle extending forwardly from the upper block to said other cable drum.

` ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU. 

